Guest blogger Susan L. Reid

This morning I'm featuring a guest blogger - Susan Reid - a dynamic coach and author of Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success. Enjoy!

Remember the Lemonade Stand

Do you remember your first entrepreneurial experience? Was it selling lemonade with your best friend on the curb in front of your house for 10 cents a glass? Perhaps it was as a Girl Scout selling Girl Scout cookies, or selling fundraising candy from your Radio Flyer to help your sister get to band camp.

Did you even think of those early beginnings as entrepreneurial, or were you just having fun, pocketing some money, and learning business skills along the way?

My entrepreneurial beginning surfaced the year my baby brother was born. I was eight. He was cute. Together we were a hit. It all started the first day I took Larry out for a stroll in his blue-plaid baby carriage. Within minutes, neighbors came out of their houses to gaze inside the buggy, dogs came over to sniff, and cars slowed down to wave as they passed. We were quite the center of attention.

During that same time, my aunt and uncle came from the country for a visit, bringing with them fresh, grown-on-the-farm, vegetables. Being a suburban girl, I didn’t know there was any difference between city carrots and country carrots. That was, until I tasted one! Yum, I thought to myself, I bet our neighbors would like these carrots, too!

To test this theory out, the next time Larry and I went for a stroll, I stopped by the refrigerator on the way out and carefully tucked farm fresh zucchini and cucumbers along his sides, tomatoes above his head, and green beans at his feet. Then, a little ways down the street and out of sight of our home, I masking taped “Fresh Produce For Sale” signs to each side of the buggy. Before long, curious neighbors and sniffing dogs made their way over to the buggy, and Susan’s Strolling Market was born.

So, think back. How old were you when you had your first entrepreneurial experience? Do you remember what it was? If you are a business owner now, chances are you probably had entrepreneurial leanings as a child. What did you learn from your first lemonade stand experience?

* * * * *
About:  Dr. Susan L. Reid is a business coach and consultant for entrepreneurial women starting up businesses. She is the author of "Discovering Your Inner Samurai: The Entrepreneurial Woman's Journey to Business Success." Her website is Alkamae.com.

Comments

[A. Caleb Hartley]

My VERY first entrepreneurial experience must have been when my Grandparents were having a garage sale and my cousin and I made little boxes out of old Christmas, Birthday, Valentine's Day, and other greeting cards. I don't think we made any money with them, but we sure had fun making them.

My first *successful* entrepreneurial venture was in middle school, when my best friend and I started a DJ service by wiring our stereo systems together and turning them up really loud... :)

We started in seventh or eighth grade, and continued - monopolizing the school dance scene - until we graduated high-school and went our seperate ways. I still sometimes wonder what might have happened if we had kept at it...

But it all led me to ultimately get my MBA in entrepreneurship and I am still working on the whole "making-money-without-a-job" thing.

Thanks for the post, Verna and Dr. Susan!

Namaste,
A. Caleb Hartley
http://www.environmentastic.com

[Dana at Nine Tomatoes - Energy Drawings]

I remember several industrious projects from my early years, and the feeling of independence that went with them. One included selling my drawings to family and friends, something I'm still doing today. I've switched from crayons to ink, but the free spirit is still there.

[Susan L Reid of]

So, Dana, was your first selling experience when you were a child? Seems like it might have been if you were using crayons. Lots of great things you can do with crayons -- shading, outlining, color combining. When I moved from crayons to cray pas, the world of color opened up to me!

[Carol McClelland of Green Career Central]

Susan! I love your story about your first entrepreneurial adventures. How ingenious of you. In terms of my own story...I remember a lot of babysitting and house/pet sitting beginning at about 12 years old. One summer during college I started a crafts business. Not the most successful venture ever, but I did discover I loved the flexibility of running my own show! That still holds true I must say.

[Susan L Reid of]

What a great first experience you had, Caleb, building boxes out of greeting cards with your cousin. Being creative and having fun is the start of many an entrepreneurial experience. You have the heart of an entrepreneur.

[Yvonne DiVita]

Wow, how old was I when I had my first entrepreneurial experience? I think I was 105. LOL I guess, as a freelance writer, you could say I was 13, just in high school and ready to "be published." I didn't get published for many years, but I never gave up. Now, I'm a writer AND a publisher... great article, Susan. You have a knack for getting folks inspired to do things...

[Susan L Reid of]

Perseverance is one of the distinguishing characteristics of entrepreneurs, Yvonne. Being ready to publish at 13 and sustaining that dream through your teens is what an entrepreneur would do. And we are all so glad you did!

[Susan L Reid of]

Indeed, Carol, babysitting and pet sitting are often precursors to larger business responsibilities, yet to come. A craft business when you were in college? How cool!

[Susan L Reid of]

Dana, you and Carol talk about that same free spirit, independence, and enjoyment of running your own show. That's a characteristic many entrepreneurs experience in their youth, that they can't seem to shake as adults. Rightfully so!